Behind Every Lie from Christina McDonald is a difficult book for me to offer a review on. I liked it, quite a bit, but also had some issues with it. In reading what other readers have said, I find myself understanding the comments I disagree with better than I usually do. I'll try to explain in a moment. I also acknowledge that part of the problem (if it is a problem) is that McDonald's first book was spectacular so a follow-up almost has to disappoint a little.
I am not one of those who generally complains about coincidences (too many, too unbelievable, etc) in a novel of this sort. Coincidences and unusual or unexpected occurrences are necessary, otherwise there would be nothing to right about other than waking, working, and hobbies, all of which would be mundane without something throwing them out of whack. There are a lot of things that might be called coincidences in this novel, perhaps more than is absolutely necessary, but I didn't find them particularly bothersome. I am a reader that is willing to let the world of the work present itself, whether staying close to the everyday or straying into the realm of the hard to believe. As long as the things that happen work toward and help to resolve the conflict, I prefer to let the story be the writer's rather than my re-write of the writer's book. This is one of the areas I mentioned above, some readers were bothered by "too many coincidences." I often dismiss those comments because it is often just that the reader didn't like something else and used that as a point of contention. But in this case, while I don't think there were too many, I can see where someone who dislikes them would be put off a bit. If they are incapable of getting past that part of the storytelling then they will be disappointed. I don't fall into that group.
One thing that I think the many little twists, turns, and coincidences do accomplish is that this is a novel I have actually enjoyed thinking about after finishing as much as I enjoyed actually reading. Part of that is thinking about how McDonald managed to keep track of everything and bring it all to a conclusion. But also thinking about the daily minutiae that we don't consciously register but could be recalled if we were straining our memories to recover from a trauma. Might I remember a detail about my father, about an old house, or even about my own feelings? I don't know, but I like being made to ponder these things.
I think most readers will be satisfied with both the storytelling and the story itself. Let the work decide, within its own limited parameters, what is believable or not. Save your rewrites for your own novels. It will allow you to enjoy this one more and also make your future bestseller that much better.
I am not one of those who generally complains about coincidences (too many, too unbelievable, etc) in a novel of this sort. Coincidences and unusual or unexpected occurrences are necessary, otherwise there would be nothing to right about other than waking, working, and hobbies, all of which would be mundane without something throwing them out of whack. There are a lot of things that might be called coincidences in this novel, perhaps more than is absolutely necessary, but I didn't find them particularly bothersome. I am a reader that is willing to let the world of the work present itself, whether staying close to the everyday or straying into the realm of the hard to believe. As long as the things that happen work toward and help to resolve the conflict, I prefer to let the story be the writer's rather than my re-write of the writer's book. This is one of the areas I mentioned above, some readers were bothered by "too many coincidences." I often dismiss those comments because it is often just that the reader didn't like something else and used that as a point of contention. But in this case, while I don't think there were too many, I can see where someone who dislikes them would be put off a bit. If they are incapable of getting past that part of the storytelling then they will be disappointed. I don't fall into that group.
One thing that I think the many little twists, turns, and coincidences do accomplish is that this is a novel I have actually enjoyed thinking about after finishing as much as I enjoyed actually reading. Part of that is thinking about how McDonald managed to keep track of everything and bring it all to a conclusion. But also thinking about the daily minutiae that we don't consciously register but could be recalled if we were straining our memories to recover from a trauma. Might I remember a detail about my father, about an old house, or even about my own feelings? I don't know, but I like being made to ponder these things.
I think most readers will be satisfied with both the storytelling and the story itself. Let the work decide, within its own limited parameters, what is believable or not. Save your rewrites for your own novels. It will allow you to enjoy this one more and also make your future bestseller that much better.